Transitioning: Leading Your Church through Change, a book by Dan Southerland that is highly recommended by Rick Warren, calls those who oppose the Purpose Driven philosophy “leaders from hell.” Southerland is “the leading expert on implementing the Purpose Driven paradigm in existing churches” (Church Transitions web site), and Warren sells his book.
Southerland says they have experienced two major sources of criticism as they have transitioned churches to the Purpose Driven model: Christians from traditional backgrounds and traditional pastors. He hastens to add that not all of the traditionals oppose them, “just the meaner ones” (p. 116). On page 115 he likens Purpose Driven opponents to Sanballat who resisted the building of the walls of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah. Southerland says, “Sanballat is a leader from hell. We all have some Sanballats in our churches. This is the guy who opposes whatever you propose. … You cannot call this guy a leader from hell to his face–but you could call him Sanballat” (p. 115).
Yep, sure sounds like something Warren would agree with. The man is so full of himself it's sad. And here's what the Almighty Purpose Driver has to say in the foreword of this book that calls those who dare critique His Warrenness:"One of the most exciting and encouraging examples of transitioning from being program-driven to purpose-driven."
Of course, "program-driven" is just a Purpose-Driven codeword that means, "Those stodgy old fuddy-duddies that still read that stupid old Bible. And not just any Bible, that dumb old King James. They need to get hip and read The Message! The bunch of heathens!" Sorry, Ricky Boy. You ain't getting one red cent out of my pocket!
